Iris Yates froze, her eyes instinctively flicking to Chloe Reed.

Chloe Reed, however, was frowning at Walker Grant. With his leisurely, self-satisfied air, it was clear he had no intention of leaving.

She lowered her gaze and let out a weary breath. "I’ll get it ready with you," she said.

’I still don’t know what his game is or what he wants in return, so I can’t afford to make an enemy of him just yet.’

The two of them went into the guest room. Iris pulled out a fresh set of sheets and a duvet cover. As they began to change the bedding, she asked, "Chloe, is what he said true? Or is he lying?"

Chloe Reed shot her a complicated look. "I’ve met William Quinn," she said. "He really is mixed-race. Blue eyes, very sharp, handsome features."

The color drained from Iris’s face. She clutched the bedsheet in her hands and said hesitantly, "But... if it already happened, can’t we just let it go? Why is he still looking for me?"

Chloe’s expression grew serious. "There’s something wrong with him. He’s not mentally stable. I’m telling you, stay away from him."

Iris nodded quickly. "Okay, okay, I’ll listen to you."

After they finished changing the bedding, the two of them walked out to find Walker on his phone, typing out a message.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door.

Iris jumped, her head snapping toward Walker. "Did you tell him?" she demanded. "Did you call him here?"

Walker shot her a cool glance before walking over to open the door. It was his bodyguard, holding a first-aid kit.

Seeing this, Iris immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

’Thank god. It’s not William Quinn.’

Walker looked at Chloe Reed. "I need my dressing changed."

Chloe Reed took the first-aid kit and went into the guest room.

Walker followed her. As soon as he was inside the room, he shut the door.

Iris had been staring after them, but now she could only gaze at the closed door. A pang of worry shot through her. "Chloe," she called out, "if he tries to bully you, just yell for me! I’ll be right out here!"

「Inside the guest room.」

Walker heard her shout from outside and chuckled softly. He reached up and began to unbutton his shirt, one button after another.

His handsome, almond-shaped eyes glinted with amusement as he looked at her. "Are you going to call for help?"

Chloe Reed’s brow furrowed. "This is someone else’s house. You should show some restraint."

Walker shrugged off his shirt, sat on the edge of the bed, and said, "I haven’t done anything. What is there to restrain?"

Chloe Reed washed her hands and walked over to start changing his dressing.

She had been standing to his side, but he grabbed her and pulled her so she was standing directly between his legs.

His hands settled on her waist, his fingers stroking her with a firm, deliberate pressure.

Chloe’s body went rigid. "Do you want this dressing changed or not?"

But Walker said, "You think I’m trying to manipulate you. I don’t like that."

Chloe tightened her grip on the cotton swab. "I’m just making a judgment based on past experience."

Walker lifted his gaze to her cool, impassive face. "I’ve never manipulated you in the past, either."

"Hah..."

Chloe let out a sharp scoff. "Can you even hear yourself? Don’t you think that’s hilarious? You say you never did? Then why didn’t you tell me that the person I saved all those years ago wasn’t you? Why did you hide the truth? Was it fun for you, watching me lose my mind over it?"

As she finished speaking, Walker’s hand on her waist tightened abruptly. A dark shadow flickered in his eyes as he said in a low, heavy voice, "Chloe Reed, back then... did you save that person because you knew I was the one in trouble, or was there another reason?"